The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-27
A FIRST BATTLE RECORD.
The Sixth Alabamas Charge Under
Gordon at Seven Pines.


ATLANTA Correspondence Globe Democrat
One day in the spring of '6l, when the
clans of the Confederacy were gathering,
there tramped into Montgomery, then the
temporary capital, a company of gaunt,
wild-eyed, jeans-clad men. As they marched
along in irregular files, with an every-man-
for-himself air, somebody on the sidewalk
called out:
What command is thatp
independent Rifles" was the reply
shouted back from the ranks.
Independent Rifles" spectator echoed
with grin.
"Raccoon Roughs," came from the free
and easy ranks; II reck'n that'n suit you
unsn
Every man in the company wore COON
skin cap, and ''the Raccoon Roughsn they
were from that time on. The command had
been recruited from. the miners and noun
taineers of the northwest corner of Georgia
and the northeast corner of Alabama They
were neighboIs and fellow-workmen whose
associations tapped over State lines Their
Captain was John b. Gordon, at present the
Governor of Georgia, but he didn't hold the
position long 1.-The Baccoon Roughs" were
modified with some other companies, and
became the Sixth Alabama, to the command
of which Capt. Gordon was elected.
"A
ceved its baptism of fire. Before that there
had been some skirmishing, but this was the
first battle, and, as Gov. Gordon describes
the scenes, they make up for the regiment a
first battle record which probably is without
parallel on either side. A shade comes over
the Governors expressive face, and his
voice drops to lower tones when he talks OF
that day.
81 started on the charge" he says. with
ma in mn ba fiohf
ing ended at nightfall, 1896 of the 600 lay on
the field dead or wounded. Ny Lieutenant
Colonel was killed. OF forty-four commits
stoned officers, only thirteen came out of that
days fighting unscathed."
Il had brother with me, boy" Gov.
Gordon continued "He was shot through
the right lung, but recovered, only TO die
with Stonewall jackson at ChanceorS
vile. He was 10 years old. had several
bullet holes in my clothes when night came,
but was not wounded One ball raked
across my chest, and would have shattered
my right arm if l hadn't it uplifted to point
with my sword a movement | wanted my
command TO make.
The Sixth Alabama the Governor went
ON, was opposite "A portion of the Federal
line which that side had no idea would be
taken. Wemade the assault in the forenoon.
There was charge across All open field per-
haps distance of $40 yards. Then we came
to breastworks behind which the Federals
were as thick as they coul stand. As we
went over their lines we found the evidences
that they had no idea of being driven back.
Cooking was going on, and in house a meal
had been prepared for an officers mess We
followed them back of the works and into
swamp where great many trees had been
felled. 1t was impossible to go ahead, and
there we stopped, stool in the water up to
our knees and fought till dark. had to de-
tail men in there TO hold the heads Of the
wounded above water to keen them from
drowning. And some of the time could
not find enough well men to take care of the
wounded"
Governor, do you recolleci of any other
command which lost so heavily in single
charge at any time during the warp was
asked
mo" replied the Governor, after little
pause, IL don't recollect anything which
was quite equal it, Our loss was within
three or four men of being two.thirds OF
the whole regiment"